The Endeavor is a big, big draw at California Science Center

California Science Center

After a recent visit to see the Mars Rovers at JPL in Pasadena, I determined to check out an even bigger space payload now a Los Angeles resident.

Like most people I had seen the retired space shuttle Endeavor towed from LAX to its new home at the Science Center next to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It had a lot of people cheering it on its way, and some trees had been trimmed to allow its passage. It was a very big flying machine.

However, walking into its new hangar, I saw it in a different perspective. Its size is quite amazing. I couldn’t help wondering how much fuel it took to lift it and its rocket to put it into orbit.

In fact, size was quite the subject of this visit.

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Any building that has a couple of suspended fighter jets in its foyer as you enter is bound to be impressive. They even have my old friend the SR-71, the “Blackbird,” on view outside on your way from the parking lot.

As usual there were lots of families and groups spending their Saturday looking at impressive objects, and although the Endeavor was the thing we all wanted to see, we had to go through quite a lot of exhibition to get to it. There are several large screens explaining how it all happened and how this huge device made its way into orbit and to the space station up above.

Once inside the hangar, though, all eyes are on this big rocket.

The Endeavor looks like it’s been around a bit. It is covered in those infamous tiles and each one seems to be numbered. It’s a little grubby, but then it has been a pretty long way. I would have liked to have seen inside, but that’s not possible at the moment. Perhaps at a later date.

The big engines at the rear, that took it the last leg into orbit and then again back into our atmosphere, are large and intimidating. And all around there are displays of how everything works. You can walk under it, all around it, and even with the crowds there is plenty of room.

Leaving the exhibit you have the chance to enjoy other interesting exhibits that are a permanent part of the California Science Center. Frankly, the Endeavor was so spectacular it was hard to concentrate on other things. Perhaps another weekend trip to the center is called for.